Recent research by Ohio State University has shown that sustained stress erodes memory and that the immune system plays a key role in the ensuing cognitive impairment. It has established the relationship between short-term memory and prolonged stress as a result of inflammation caused by the immune system’s response to outside pressure.

Long term psychosocial stress continued to have an effect on the development of new neurons for a period of 28 days after the stress had ended.

The inflammation and memory loss did disappear when anti-inflammatories were administered, but the depressive-like behaviour and social avoidance remained, showing that post-stress memory loss is linked to the immune system.